Aspirator and associated method

Abstract

An aspirator, including a bulb that defines first and second ports, a tube adjacent to the first port defined by the bulb, and means for helping to prevent aspirated material inside the bulb from exiting the bulb through the second port defined by the bulb.

1. An aspirator, comprising:
 a bulb defining first and second ports; 
 a tube adjacent to the first port; 
 a shunt in the second port, the shunt comprising an internal elongate portion within the bulb for helping to prevent aspirated material inside the bulb from exiting the bulb through the second port defined by the bulb; and 
 wherein the second port is offset approximately 90 degrees from the first port to help prevent aspirated material exiting the bulb through the second port from contaminating an operator of the aspirator. 
 
   
   
     2. An aspirator, comprising:
 a bulb defining first and second ports and comprising an exterior wall, said first and second ports each carrying a valve; 
 a tube adjacent to said first port; and 
 a hood projecting from the exterior wall of the bulb, said hood being located adjacent to the second port but separated and spaced apart from the valve carried in the second port, wherein said hood helps to prevent aspirated material exiting the bulb through the second port from contaminating an operator of the aspirator. 
 
   
   
     3. An aspirator according to  claim 2 , wherein the hood forms an inverted scoop. 
   
   
     4. An aspirator according to  claim 2 , wherein the second port is offset approximately 90 degrees from the first port to further help to prevent aspirated material exiting the bulb through the second port from contaminating an operator of the aspirator. 
   
   
     5. An aspirator according to  claim 2 , wherein the valve carried in the second port is in a shunt. 
   
   
     6. An aspirator according to  claim 2 , wherein the hood is integrally formed with the bulb. 
   
   
     7. A method for aspirating, comprising:
 providing an aspirator comprising a bulb, said bulb defining first and second ports, a tube adjacent to the first port defined by the bulb, and a shunt in the second port, the shunt comprising an internal elongate portion within the bulb for helping to prevent aspirated material inside the bulb from exiting the bulb through the second port defined by the bulb; 
 grasping the bulb of the aspirator; 
 inserting the tube of the aspirator into a predetermined orifice of a patient; 
 squeezing the bulb of the aspirator; 
 releasing the bulb of the aspirator; 
 repeating said squeezing and releasing steps as necessary to accomplish the desired aspiration; and 
 discarding the aspirator. 
 
   
   
     8. An method according to  claim 7 , wherein the first port defined by the bulb of the aspirator provided in said providing step and the shunt in the second port defined by the bulb of the aspirator provided in said providing step each carry a valve. 
   
   
     9. An method according to  claim 7 , wherein the second port defined by the bulb of the aspirator provided in said providing step is offset approximately 90 degrees from the first port defined by the bulb of the aspirator in order to help prevent aspirated material exiting the bulb through the second port from contaminating an operator of the aspirator. 
   
   
     10. A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the bulb of the aspirator provided in said providing step further comprises an interior wall and the internal elongate portion of the shunt defines an internal opening spaced apart from the interior wall of the bulb for further helping to prevent aspirated material inside the bulb from exiting the bulb through the second port defined by the bulb. 
   
   
     11. A method for aspirating, comprising:
 providing an aspirator comprising
 a bulb defining first and second ports and comprising an exterior wall, said first and second ports each carrying a valve; 
 a tube adjacent to said first port, and 
 a hood projecting from the exterior wall of the bulb, said hood being located adjacent to the second port but separated and spaced apart from the valve carried in the second port, wherein said hood helps to prevent aspirated material exiting the bulb through the second port from contaminating an operator of the aspirator; 
 
 grasping the bulb of the aspirator; 
 inserting the tube of the aspirator into an orifice of a patient; 
 squeezing the bulb of the aspirator; 
 releasing the bulb of the aspirator; 
 repeating said squeezing and releasing steps as necessary to accomplish the desired aspiration; and 
 discarding the aspirator. 
 
   
   
     12. A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the hood of the aspirator provided in said providing step forms an inverted scoop. 
   
   
     13. An method according to  claim 11 , wherein the second port defined by the bulb of the aspirator provided in said providing step is offset approximately 90 degrees from the first port defined by the bulb of the aspirator in order to further help to prevent aspirated material exiting the bulb through the second port from contaminating an operator of the aspirator. 
   
   
     14. A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the valve carried in the second port defined by the bulb of the aspirator provided in said providing step is in a shunt. 
   
   
     15. An method according to  claim 11 , wherein the hood of the aspirator provided in said providing step is integrally formed with the bulb of the aspirator.